A Great Investment: Learning to Massage Your Own Dog

In a few weeks Dr. Cindy DiFranco will be returning to present her Massage Technique presentation and offer private individual lessons on canine massage. This will be Dr. Cindy’s third visit to Think Pawsitive. She will teach new participants how to properly massage their dogs and teach returning participants how to advance their massage techniques. For more information about Dr. Cindy DiFranco visit our website at:

Click here to read Instructor Bio.
The benefits of canine massage are so important for dogs of any age and the value of learning how to do the massages yourself will enrich your relationship for a lifetime. Starting massage on young dogs teaches them to relax and acclimates them to being touched on all parts of their bodies. As you are massaging, you are able to locate lumps, bumps, soreness, ticks, tightness or any medical conditions that you may not have been previously aware of. You can also closely monitor any changes in the condition of your dog’s physique. With massage one treats the dog as a whole. The manual investigations will reveal soreness, tight muscles and pain that many dogs are very good at disguising. These unresolved issues might cause the dog to compensate, leading to further distress and possible injury. Further, learning to massage gives you a tool to relax dogs that struggle with stress and anxiety. Regular massage gives you a means to alleviate pain and stiffness in aging and arthritic dogs.

I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Cindy with several of my dogs that have various chronic conditions. Her ability to teach specific techniques has given me the confidence to routinely massage each of them. I have learned to identify problems based on my dogs’ physical responses to being massaged, and now have the ability to alleviate many of them. I strongly encourage all dog owners (especially owners of canine athletes) to learn to massage their own dogs. It is a non-invasive treatment that helps speed up the body’s healing process. It will improve your dog’s circulation, mobility, and range of motion. It will improve your dog’s gait and stance, allowing him to distribute his weight naturally and equally on all four limbs. All of these benefits will ultimately contribute to boosting the performance of competitive dogs and minimize potential injury.

Once your dog learns to relax and trust your massage routine, he will really enjoy it and be eager for treatment. The trust you’ve gained will enrich your relationship and your training.

Dr. DiFranco’s Massage Technique presentation will be held on Thursday, May 14th, 2015 from 6 – 9 PM. It is aimed at anyone who wishes to learn – both beginners and those who wish to brush up on their skills. She walks you through a full body massage in a step-by-step manner and demonstrates each technique on one of her dogs. 55-minute private lessons with Dr. DiFranco may be scheduled during the day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (May 15th -17th). She will help you perfect your massage skills and learn to identify and relieve issues particular to your own dog.

Visit our website for more information or to register for this great event. You won’t want to miss it!